Drive for indicator elements



June 23, 1936. w H, PER ET 2,045,263

DRIVE FOR INDICATOR ELEMENTS Filed June 15, 1934 Patented June 23, 1936 pairs!) STATES PATENT OFFICE DRIVE FOR INDICATOR ELEMENTS Application June 15, 1934, Serial No. 730,772

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in multiple ratio dial drives, being specifically directed to a dial drive of the Vernier type applied in radio reception devices.

One of the inherent difficulties involved in the use of radio apparatus adapted for reception within several wavelength bands, particularly those serving low or high bands or both, lies in the fact that the dial control for the tuning mechanism must be capable of rapid displacement in order to attain certain station groups within specific wavelength ranges, while at the same time, when the proximity of a series of stations within a certain wavelength range are reached, sharp tuning must be attained to bring in the respective stations spaced very closely within specific wavelength ranges; the present type of dial drive covers the prescribed ranges but is not capable of producing the necessary accurate tuning control within the specific high or low bands.

Broadly, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel form of control for tuning elements in the form of a dial-drive which is so constructed as to introduce a simple reciprocating control for producing the displacement of the tuning elements either at a high or low ratio, thereby to provide for ready displacement within the proper range of the tuning elements and then sharp and positive displacement of the tuning elements for receiving a particular station within a narrow range.

Specifically, it is an object of this inventionto provide a novel form of drive fortuning elements in conjunction with an indicator dial, wherein by a simple but positive displacement of such drive mechanism the tuning elements may be actuated below to a high speed and vice versa, the apparatus being so constructed as to provide a positive action, while at the same time eliminating back lash and other differences.

These and other advantages, capabilities and features of the invention will appear from the subjoined detailed description of one specific embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a front view of the device forming the subject matter of this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, with the control at inactive position.

Figure 3 is a side elevation partly broken away showing the drive mechanism in high ratio;

Figure 4 is a side elevation partly broken away showing the drive mechanism in low ratio.

Figure 5 is a rear view partly broken away of the mechanism.

Referring to the reference characters in the drawing, numeral II! represents a tuning element in the form of a condenser having the conventional rotor and stator plates, to the lower portion of the end wall I I of which there is attached L-shaped frame support I2 forming one support for the drive mechanism. To the base I2a of the frame I2 there is fixed at one end upstanding frame support I3 as by screws, rivets or the like, said frame forming the other support for the drive mechanism. I

Within frame supports I2 and I3 and disposed opposite one another are enlarged apertures I5 and I5 within which apertures is disposed drive shaft I6 of relatively smaller diameter when compared to that of the enlarged apertures. Above the driving shaft I6 and carried within apertures I 1 and H on the respective frame supports I2 and I3 there is disposed driven shaft I8.

On the driving shaft I6 there are disposed in spaced relationship driving pinion I9 and bevelled annular channel 20, which cooperate respectively with bevelled annular channel 2| and driven pinion 22 similarly spaced on the driven shaft; the driving pinion I9 being adaptedto be disposed within and frictionally contact. at times with channel 2! on the driven shaft, and pinion 22 on the driven shaft, being adapted at times to frictionally contabt with and rest within channel of the driving shaft. The effective diameter of the driving pinion I9 is much greater than the effective diameter of the peripheral channel 20 of the driving shaftand corresponding with the effective diameter of the channel 2I is much smaller than the effective diameter of the driven pinion 22 on the driven shaft I8, so that the necessary two speed driving ratio for the tuning element may be produced- On driven shaft I8 and between channel 2| and pinion 22 thereof there is formed a bevelled channel 23 in which there is adapted to be disposed for frictional contactthe peripheral surface of driven disk 24 fixed to collar 25 from one end of which extends stub shaft 26. The base of the collar 25- carrying the driven disk 24 is fixed by means of set screws to one end 21 of the shaft carrying the rotors of the condenser I0, so that actuation of the driven disk 24 will cause displacement of the condenser shaft and the rotor plates carried thereby.

To the'upper portion of the end plate II of the condenser there is attached L-shaped support plate 28 to the forward'portion 29 of which there is attached a segment of ring 30 carrying the indicator plate I4, the lower portion of the ring 30 being attached to a projection I3a extending upwardly from said frame support I3, said indicator plate having a central aperture 32, through which passes the end of stub shaft 26, and at the outermost end of which stub shaft 26 there is fixed indicator needle 33 as by means of set screw 34, the end extremities of which, upon displacement of the condenser shaft, will register against the indicia 35 carried on the face of the indicator plate.

Referring in detail to Figures 2, 3 and 4, it is to be noted that the diameter of the portions of the drive shaft within the apertures I5 and I5 in the frame supports I3 and I4 are much smaller than the diameter of such apertures, thus providing free movement in vertical plane of the driving shaft I8; the portion of the driving shaft I6 within the aperture I5 of frame support I3 being so formed as to permit not only a vertical movement but a horizontal movement of some magnitude. The end portions of the driven shaft I 8 are so formed as to provide a relatively close fit within the apertures I1 and H of frame supports I2 and I3.

Referring to Figures 2 to 5 inclusive, one reduced end IBa of driving shaft I 6 has a neck portion I 61) and a head portion I60; about the neck there is fastened one end of coiled spring 33, the other end being fastened to projection 31 on frame support I2, thereby to maintain the shaft end under tension in certain stages of operation of the device as will be later described.

Referring particularly to Figure 5, there is pivoted as at 38 on frame I2, a lever 39 about the free end 39a of which there is fastened one end of coiled spring 40, the other end of said spring being fastened to projection M on frame I2. Centrally of the lever and at the edge thereof adjacent the neck portion IBb of the driving shaft I6, there is formed a notch 39b, in which at a certain stage of the displacement of the shaft IS the said neck portion I6!) is adapted to rest within said notch.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, there is pivoted as at 42 on frame I2, lever 43, about the free end 43a of which there is fastened one end of coiled spring 44, the other end of said spring being fastened to projection 45 on frame I3. Centrally of said lever and at the edge thereof adjacent the reduced neck Hid of drive shaft I6, there are formed two notches 43b and 430 in spaced relationship to each other,the neck Ifid of the drive shaft being adapted to rest in either notch 43b or 430 dependent upon the direction of vertical displacement which is imparted to shaft I6 by the operator of the device from end I 60 of said shaft. The reduced end I 8a of driven shaft I8 which projects beyond the aperture I I in the frame support I2 has respectively neck and shoulder portions I8b and I80, about the neck portion of which one end of coiled spring 46 is fastened, the other end of such coiled spring being fastened about projection 41, extending outwardly from frame support I2.

The device may be operated in the following manner:

As indicated in Figures 3 and 4, the control is respectively in the low and high driving ratios, while in Figure 2 there are shown a few not ordinarily applied, but for the purpose of this disclosure indicating the intermediate position of the device in the actuation of the driving shaft,

so that the device may operate either in low or high ratio.

For the purpose of illustration, assuming the device to be in the position shown in Figure 2, the frictional interengaging elements of the driving and driven shaft, I6 and I8, are not in contact; in order to obtain low ratio, all that is necessary is to depress the knob carrying end of driving shaft I6 downwardly, as shown in Figure 3, whereupon lever 43 is displaced somewhat against the tension of spring 44 until neck I6d of driving shaft I6 rests in notch 430 of the lever 43, at which point driving shaft I6 is at a downward angle and peripheral channel 20 on driving shaft I6 is in frictional and interengaging contact with pinion 22 on driven shaft I 8, the neck I 61) at the other end of driving shaft I 6 having been upwardly displaced against the spring tension of lever 39 until said neck is above groove 3% of such lever, but against inclined surface 390 thereof, the tension of spring 40 associated with such lever being such as to maintain such last-named neck of driving shaft I6 fixed against the edge of lever 39 and in operative position for rotation. Upon rotation of driving shaft I6, driven shaft I8 is displaced at a high ratio due to the relative ratios of peripheral surfaces of the peripheral groove or channel 20 on driving shaft I6 and the friction disk or pinion 22 on driven shaft IB.

In order to obtain the low ratio the driving shaft I6 is displaced vertically upwardly past the theoretical center shown in Figure 2 to the upwardly inclined position shown in Figure 4, at which time pinion or disk I9 on driving shaft I6 and channel or peripheral groove 2I on driven shaft I8 are in frictional interengagement, while at the same time channel 20 on driving shaft I6 and pinion 22 on driven shaft I8 are out of engagement; meanwhile, the neck I 6d of shaft I6 has been displaced out of groove 430 of lever 43 upwardly into the other groove 43b of said lever against the tension of spring 44 while the neck I 6b at the other end of driving shaft I6 has been displaced downwardly along lever 39 against the tension of spring 40 thereof into notch 39b of said lever, at which condition the driving shaft being fixed against vertical reciprocation may be rotated at low ratio to cause rotary displacement of said driven shaft through cooperation of pinion I9 of driving shaft and channel 2I of driven shaft.

Upon rotation of the driven shaft by the combination of either of the respective frictional interengaging disk and peripheral channels, on the driving and driven shafts, disk 24 carried on the shaft 25 coupling the pointer and tuning means is caused by frictional interengagement with channel or peripheral groove 23 on said driven shaft, to be displaced in either low or high ratio, dependent upon the relative vertical position of the driving shaft I B.

It should be noted that due to the positive support under tension of the driving shaft due to the disposition of the ends thereof against and in notches of the cam lever that back-lash or slippage is entirely eliminated when the driving shaft is rotated.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims:

We claim:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination with a frame member, an indicator disk annular channel of the driven shaft at one posi-' carriedon said frame member, a pointer adjacent said indicator disk and movable with respect thereto, a shaft coupling said indicator disk with tuning means, a'disk carried on said shaft and rotatable to displace the tuning means and pointer, and means for displacing said disk at different speeds, said last-named means comprising'a driven shaft carrying a channel frictionally interengaging with the peripheral s rface of said disk to cause displacement thereof upon movement of said driven shaft, a disk and channel disposed on said driven shaft, a drive shaft mounted for vertical reciprocation to a plurality of positions and for rotation at any of such positions, said drive shaft having a peripheral channel and a disk, the disk of the drive shaft being adapted to frictionally interengage with its cooperating annularchannel of the driven shaft at one position of said drive shaft, and the disk of said driven shaft being adapted to frictionally interengage with its cooperating annular channel of the drive shaft at the other position of said drive shaft, whereby at any one position of said drive shaft the driven shaft is actuated upon rotary displacement of said driving shaft at a predetermined drive ratio.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination with a frame member, an indicator disk carried on said frame member, a pointer adjacent said indicator disk and movable with respect thereto, a shaft coupling said indicator disk with tuning means, a disk carried on said shaft and rotatable to displace the tuning means and pointer, and means for displacing said disk at different speeds, said last-named means comprising a driven shaft carrying a channel frictionally interengaging with the peripheral surface of said disk to cause displacement thereof upon movement of said driven shaft, a disk and channel disposed on said driven shaft, a drive shaft mounted for vertical reciprocation to a plurality of positions and for rotation at any of such positions said drive shaft having a peripheral channel and a disk, the disk of the drive shaft beingadapted to frictionally interengage with its cooperating annular channel of the driven shaft at one position of said drive shaft, and the disk of said driven shaft being adapted to frictionally interengage with its cooperating annular channel of the drive shaft at the other position of said drive shaft, whereby at any one position of said drive shaft the driven shaft is actuated upon rotary displacement of said driving shaft at a predetermined drive ratio, and means for locking said drive shaft from reciprocating movement and for rotation at any of its respective positions.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination with a frame member, an indicator disk carried on said frame member, a pointer adjacent said indicator disk and movable with respect thereto, a shaft coupling said indicator disk with tuning means, a disk carried on said shaft and rotatable to displace the tuning means and pointer, and means for displacing said disk at different speeds, said last-named means comprising a driven shaft carrying a channel frictionally interengaging with the peripheral surface of said disk to cause displacement thereof upon movement of said driven shaft, a disk and channel disposed on said driven shaft, a drive shaft mounted for vertical reciprocation to a plurality of positions and for rotation at any of such positions, said drive shaft having a peripheral channel and a disk, the disk of the drive shaft being adapted to frictionally interengage with its cooperating tion of saiddrive shaft, and the disk of said driven shaft being adapted to frictionally interengage with its cooperating annular channel of the drive shaft at the other position of said drive shaft, whereby at any one position of said drive shaft the driven shaft is actuated'upon rotary displacement of said driving shaft at a predetermined drive ratio, and means for locking said drive shaft from reciprocating movement and for rotation. at any of its respective positions, said lastnamed means comprising a lever having notched sections to receive the shaft at its respective positions of reciprocation.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination with a frame member, an indicator disk carried on said frame member, a pointer adjacent said indicator disk and movable withrespect thereto, a shaft-coupling said indicator disk with tuning means, a disk carried on said shaft and rotatable to displace the tuning means and pointer, and means for displacing said disk at different speeds, said last-named means comprising a driven shaft carrying a channel frictionally interengaging with the peripheral surface of said disk to cause displacement thereof upon movement of said driven shaft, a disk and channel disposed on said driven shaft, a drive shaft mounted for vertical reciprocation to a plurality of positions and for rotation at any of such positions, said drive shaft having a peripheral channel and a disk, the disk of the drive shaft being adapted to frictionally interengage with its cooperating annular channel of the driven shaft at one position of said drive shaft, and the disk of said driven shaft being adapted to frictionally interengage with its cooperating annular channel of the drive shaft at the other position of said drive shaft, whereby at any one position of said drive shaft the driven shaft is actuated upon rotary displacement of said driving shaft at a predetermined drive ratio, means for locking said drive shaft from reciprocating movement and for rotation at any of its respective positions, said last-named means comprising a lever having notched sections to receive the shaft at its respective positions of reciprocation, and means for resiliently mounting said lever to permit reciprocating displacement of the drive shaft to its respective driving positions.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination with a tuning device, and an indicator associated therewith, of a control interconnected with said tuning device and indicator, for actuating the same, said control comprising drive and driven elements, the latter element being directly interconnected with said tuning device and indicator, said drive element being swingingly displaceable to selectively interengage said driven element, to provide specific drive ratios therebetween at specific positions of the former, means for guiding said drive element during its swinging displacement, and a socket on said guiding means for receiving said drive element after predetermined displacement thereof, to interengage said driven element for rotative movement.

6. In a device of the class described, in combination with a tuning device, and an indicator associated therewith, of a control interconnected with said tuning device, and indicator for actuating the same, said control comprising drive and driven elements, the latter element being directly interconnected with said tuning device and indicator, said drive element being swingingly displaceable to interengage said driven element to 75 provide specific drive ratios therebetween at specific positions of the former, means for guiding the drive element during swinging displacement thereof, said last-named means being so formed as to provide fixed bearing for said drive element to permit rotative interengagement of the drive element with said driven element only after predetermined displacement of the former.

7. In a device of the class described, in combination with a tuning device and indicator therefor, of a control means for actuating the same simultaneously, said control means comprising driven element acting on said tuning device and indicator, a swingingly displaceable drive element, a plurality of members respectively on said driven and drive elements adapted for interengagement to provide different drive ratios therebetween, means providing a floating suspension for said drive element, and means for guiding said drive element during displacement, said drive element being swingingly displaceable to provide interengagement of the respective members on said driven and drive elements.

8. In a device of the class described, in combination with a tuning device and indicator therefor, of a control means for actuating the same simultaneously, said control means comprising a driven element acting on said tuning device and indicator, 2. swingingly displaceable drive element, means for providing a floating suspension for said drive element, a plurality of members respectively on said driven and drive elements, adapted for interengagement to provide different drive ratios therebetween upon predetermined swinging displacement of said drive element, and means for guiding the drive element as the-same is displaced to its position for interengaging said driven element.

WILLIAM H. COOPER.

CLARENCE A. PINKHAM. 2o 

